Meanwhile, a NY Daily News op-ed argues that this is an opportune time for peace. Why? Turkey, Egypt and Qatar — Hamas’ primary patrons now — are US allies with leverage over the terror group. Not sure if this is related, but the Times of Israel reports Israeli and Egyptian officials are meeting in Cairo to discuss Gaza’s smuggling tunnels.

2. Several top journalists have left Al-Jazeera because Arab spring coverage clearly has a politcal agenda. Der Spiegel writes:

Suliman is not the only one who feels bitterly disappointed. The Arab TV network has recently suffered an exodus of prominent staff members. Reporters and anchors in cities like Paris, London, Moscow, Beirut and Cairo have left Al-Jazeera, despite what are seen as luxurious working conditions in centrally located offices. . .

A prominent correspondent who, until one year ago, used to report in Beirut for the network, says: “Al-Jazeera takes a clear position in every country from which it reports — not based on journalistic priorities, but rather on the interests of the Foreign Ministry of Qatar,” he says. “In order to maintain my integrity as a reporter, I had to quit.”

3. Judging from this Sky News dispatch from Aleppo, the influence of international jihadis is indeed eclipsing local rebels.

Indeed the foreigners are coming. I have seen a steady increase from Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Algeria. Even the Free Syrian Army accepts that like it or not the Jihadists will play a future role in the make up of post-Assad Syria.

Israel and the Palestinians

• Ahead of President Obama’s visit, Israel and the PA both dispatched envoys to brief Washington on their positions. Also, both denied reports that Israel will free terror leaders Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat and 550 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture.

• Bob Simon of 60 Minutes was back in Israel to learn more about the Iron Dome. Nice dispatch.

• Two years after the Itamar massacre, Israel HaYom visits the surviving members of the Fogel family.

The standard journalistic technique was used of allowing Israel’s enemies to make bold statements without questioning them or challenging what is being said whilst quizzing Israeli spokesmen on every statement. In this case there was no challenge to the Palestinian statements of how much Israel received, no balancing correction to point out how much the Palestinians receive and no challenge to the view that there should be pressure on Israel because of the payments or a counter-view that the same argument could be used to put pressure on the Palestinians.
In fact, American aid is just over 1% of Israel’s GDP and is mostly spent on American products or on research from which America benefits.

Bob Simons concluded his report & mentioned that “hamas never surrendered…etc.,” – this reminded me of a quote by Dr Wm. E Blackstone, a foremost authority on international law, who pointed out in 1891 “that since the Jews never gave up their title to Palestine nor abandoned the land, they simply succumbed after a most desperate conflict, to the overwhelming power of the Romans and were captured or enslaved.” Also claimed, alongside other luminaries of his day the Jewish claim was legally, at least, SOUND! Others claimed “the forcible manner by whch Israelies have been kept out of the land, with no means of redress is equivalent in principle to con’td state of war” Israel BELONGS to Jews!